Caricature of a Grandee 1600 - 1700

This is an anonymous sketch, titled “Caricature of a Grandee”, currently residing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The drawing presents us with a figure that embodies both status and fragility. The grandee, marked by his wide-brimmed hat and draped cloak, stands as a symbol of Spanish aristocracy, a class that held considerable power and privilege. Yet, there is an unsettling vulnerability conveyed through the figure's spindly legs and withdrawn posture. The choice of caricature is significant, as it exaggerates features, turning them into a statement. What could this anonymity mean? Is it a critique of the grandee's physical form, or perhaps a broader commentary on the moral and social decay of the aristocracy? The drawing invites us to consider the emotional and social consequences of power, and the ways in which identities can be both performed and critiqued through art.